The upcoming November 8, 2016 Presidential Election has been nothing short of dramatic. With this drama, I have heard many people raise concerns about voting rights. Therefore, it is important that all of us get a refresher course on what our rights actually are the day of the election. Here are a few basic things to remember on/before election day:

​You are absolutely NOTrequired to have photo ID to vote. You can access a list of acceptable forms of ID here.

If you have been convicted of a crime (felony or misdemeanor), you may still be eligible to vote provided you re-registered by the October 11th deadline. In Ohio, a person convicted of a crime isallowed to voted provided that the person is notcurrently incarceratedandthat person has not been twice convicted of election law felonies.

The deadline to register to vote was October 11. However, you can still check your voter registration status, track your absentee ballot, obtain a sample ballot, or find your polling location here.

You have until November 5, 2016 at NOON to request an absentee ballot. The form is available here.

Ohio also has early in-person voting that began October 12, 2016. You should check with your county board of elections for more precise information, but the statewide schedule is available here.

Anyone with a mental or physical disability or who is unable to read or write is permitted, by federal law, to have assistance in voting provided that the assistant is not a candidate on the ballot in that precinct, the voter's employer or agent, or a representative of the voter's union. Two poll workers (each of a different political party) may also assist th voter and CANNOT reveal how the person voted. For more information, click here.

Polls will be open on November 8, 2016 from 6:30am until 7:30pm. You ARE permitted to vote as long as you are in line by 7:30pm.